Boxing needs to change!

This basically.

You could make the argument that in a sport that's been in the public eye as long as boxing, its evolution has basically deigned whatever alterations it can up without a dramatic shift that would essentially change it from all recognition.

I'm far from an expert on TBI's, but from what I understand they can be both chronic and acute. In other words, "slow-burning" and sudden onset during the fight. Short of brain scanning literally every week (day, hour, round ?), I really can't see what could improve that would make a dramatic difference.

I would be interested in the weight cut element in Day, however, and in weight divisions under HW generally where deaths via TBI suffered in fight are almost unheard of. There is definitely something in that.

Rugby Union in the UK is undergoing a similar, albeit less serious issue with soft tissue injuries at present. Basically the players are all so jacked, athletic and heavy that injuries and their rehab are becoming a focal point of the entire game. There's no easy answer.

 

I doubt much would change their mind. Boxing is what it is. a bloodsport. The people who don't like it for being violent will never enjoy it.

 

Hard to disagree with a lot of this. Maybe the weigh in system. Giving fighters more time to rehydrate, we may end up with even larger weight differences on fight night. That said, I don't know what a good solution is and at least you've got us talking about it.

 

A good idea on paper, but who’s gonna pay for it? And we need them for every fight, not just main events. Get them as volunteers? Also, a huge question arises how to get 4 of them so that both fighters (and their teams) would agree. We know how sides battle to appoint the “correct” official judges (the three ones to score), here the situation would be similar.

This is completely unrealistic. Nobody will pay for that.

Well, it could help somewhat, but it will hurt the sport so much. Personally I would hate it.

Ok. Why not.

Yes, here I agree completely. We need even more weight checks. Several during the training camps, the day before the fight, and directly before the fight. At least the morning of the fight (every boxing organization should adopt it). The whole idea is to get boxers fight as close to their "walkaround" weight as possible.

Also, in general, more authority should be given to ringside physicians. They should not be afraid to stop the fight even if they suspect that something might be seriously wrong.
And they should be given some devices to check boxers’ health. One such device for a boxing event is not that expensive. Especially that they can use them again in next fights for years.

And probably less rounds...

 

I've been saying this for a while now. The extreme crash cutting is a BIG problem. Some guys are cutting gobs of weight in just a matter of days, and the brain isnt always filled back with enough fluid in 24 hrs to be able to absorb hundreds and hundreds of blows. How do we rectify this? My suggestion has been to have approx a 7 to 10-day weight that must be met where the fighter is within a % of the contracted weight will ensure they're not having to cut an obscene amount in the days prior to the fight. AND there should also be 48 hrs of rehydration time between weigh-in and fight time. Both criteria must be met or you CANT fight. Promoters, of course, wont sign off on this because it will lead to too many cancellations and cost them money.

 

Also, we need serious medical checks for boxers before the fights. (Maybe even periodically several times a year for active boxers.) Because lots of them go into their fights already having some (brain) injuries while sparring during the training camps.
But, again, this is completely unrealistic...

 

I think it should all come down to the referee.
The referee should be fully aware of the ongoing fight(scoring that is) and both fighters histories inside the ring.

Or maybe not, it´s just and idea.

One thing is for sure, that the commissions do a **** poo job with fight officials. We have no idea as to what kind of training anyone receives, if any at all.

 

Same day weigh in is great idea, also 12oz gloves would make a big difference

 

I hope that this doesn't come off as insensitive, but it's a risk that fighters KNOWINGLY and WILLINGLY take. No different than a tightrope walker or a police officer.

 

By the same argument, if you step inside the ropes you accept the risks. You can't expect everybody bar you to save you.

If you heap all the responsibility on the ref and ringside docs as you appear to suggest, they will become incredibly wary of making a "bad decision" going forward. You'll basically end up with no officials of repute willing to take the risk and calling off fights the second someone looks vaguely shook.

They won't give a monkeys about the sport long term if they think they're going to be sued to oblivion. And you can't blame them.

 

Repeat, for me when a boxer after a knock down starts fighting again and during the fight he completely lowers his guard the ref has to scream "Stop", shield that boxer and count immediately him cause even one only second in boxing can change lifes of people (as Richard Steele taught).

 

Don't forget to get your head scanned bro, that's a ton of sparring you've been doing.

 

I cringe when I see people, even on here, b*tch when the ref pulls a guy out who is helplessly behind and taking a beating because he's "still throwing back". Its dumb. You gotta save some of these guys from themselves. Unless the guy "fighting back" has concussive KO power its very unlikely he's gonna pull a fight out he's well behind in after 8 rounds or so. We need more mercy stoppages.

 

I do not agree. It was his head bouncing off the canvas with such force that ultimately lead to his demise. Not the punches.